As part of the Western Balkans Digital Summit (Digital Summit WB6 2026), the Director of the Agency for Identification Documents, Registers and Data Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina (IDDEEA), Academician Prof. Dr. Almir Badnjević, held a bilateral meeting with Jarosław Ponder, Head of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office for Europe. The ITU is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for information and communication technologies.
The meeting focused on opportunities for more concrete ITU support for Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementing major digital transformation projects, particularly in the areas of broadband internet development, the deployment of 5G networks, the digitalisation of radio broadcasting and the application of new technologies in the public sector.
Badnjević particularly emphasised the need for expert support in mapping broadband infrastructure, preparing the regulatory and technical prerequisites for the development of 5G networks, and improving internet connectivity in rural areas. Another topic discussed was the possibility of ITU technical assistance in preparing for the introduction of Digital Audio Broadcasting Plus (DAB+) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A significant part of the discussion was devoted to the Giga initiative, jointly implemented by the ITU and UNICEF with the aim of connecting schools to the internet, as well as opportunities for its further development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Badnjević stressed the importance of ensuring equal access to digital technologies, particularly in education and for young people.
The meeting also addressed the ITU’s GENIE.AI project, which focuses on the development and application of generative artificial intelligence in the public sector. Badnjević presented opportunities to integrate such solutions with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s existing digital infrastructure, including digital identity and qualified electronic signatures, as well as the development of new electronic services available to citizens.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina should not wait for technological change to pass it by. We have already established important foundations for our digital infrastructure, and now we need to use them to develop practical services. Cooperation with organisations such as the ITU is important precisely because it enables us to turn international knowledge, experience and technical support into projects that benefit the citizens, economy and institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Badnjević stated.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss further cooperation with the ITU and explore the possibility of launching concrete initiatives in coordination with the competent institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
IDDEEA continues its efforts to strengthen international cooperation and showcase Bosnia and Herzegovina’s digital capabilities, with the aim of making existing infrastructure the foundation for the development of new, secure and accessible digital services.
